Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette wants Antoine Griezmann and so do I

Record signing Alexandre Lacazette has told BBC’s Match of the Day magazine that he will ask “good friend” Antoine Griezmann to join Arsenal if the Atletico Madrid striker ever visits him in London.

Alexandre Lacazette was Arsenal’s star signing last summer. Breaking the club record to sign him, Arsene Wenger finally addressed the need for a clinical centre-forward. And Lacazette is certainly a blockbuster, high-profile addition, unlike the usual targets and signings that Wenger tries to bring to North London.

But Lacazette does not just want to be the only star signing. Per an interview with BBC’s Match of the Day Magazine, Lacazette revealed how he was good friends with Griezmann, stating, excitingly, that the next time he sees the Atletico Madrid attacker, he will try to convince him to make the switch.

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Fans will hope that Lacazette is serious when speaking on the topic. Griezmann is one of the world’s best strikers, valued at over £90 million. Manchester United were interested in signing the striker over the summer, and have been relentlessly linked with the Frenchman for many years.

Griezmann recently penned a new 5-year contract, keeping him at Atletico Madrid until June 2022, he has a runners-up Champions League medal, and is credited for finishing third place for the 2016 Ballons d’Or.

Many fans have been calling for Wenger to sign the player for many, many years. Paul Merson urged Wenger to sign Greizmann back in January, when there was a strong possibility of the French striker moving to United, and Wenger himself has heralded his qualities, stirring up dreams of him playing in the Gunners’ red, though ultimately settled for Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna, in a £17.1 million deal last summer after it was realised that bringing in a star attacker would not be possible that late in the window.

With the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil being tipped to leave Arsenal on free transfers next summer, as their respective contracts expire with no sign of an agreement to an extension in the offing, Arsenal, despite their usual hesitancies, may be willing to spend big in order to replace both players.

And Griezmann would certainly be a perfect replacement for either player. His ability to link-up play with great accuracy and potency, his deceptive turn of pace, combined with his willingness to make incisive, penetrating runs off the ball, engineers space through movement, and his dribbling skills, his subtle and soft first touch, and his precise and consistent distribution mean he is adept at playing in tight areas.

Fans will hope the 2016 La Liga Player of the Year will not reject them again. Many fans know the key to landing Griezmann will come down to Champions League qualification, with the added bonus of linking up with French teammates in Lacazette, Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny, among others. And whilst this deal is a huge ask, it certainly is not unrealistic and beyond

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And whilst this deal is a huge ask and perhaps a little unrealistic, maybe, just maybe, Arsenal, Wenger, and Lacazette can pull off the miracle.

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